From fishing boats to tour boats
Maris Vlora started in 2022, but the story behind it goes back much further. The people who founded this business grew up in Vlore, spending their time on the water — first for sport fishing, then exploring the Karaburun Peninsula for the sheer pleasure of it. Long before the idea of a tour company existed, this coastline was already part of everyday life.
What began as a shared knowledge of where to go — the caves that lit up at midday, the bays that no road reached, the canyon that only a narrow boat could slip through — eventually became something worth sharing with visitors. In 2022, a group of friends turned that knowledge into a business. The tours we run today are built on years of being out here before any of it was commercial.
A local team of skippers, guides and the people who keep everything running behind the scenes. Some of us have been working on these waters for years. All of us live in Vlore.
What makes us different
There are other boat tours in Vlore. Here is what sets ours apart.
We are locals
Every skipper and guide on our team grew up in Vlore. We know this coastline the way you know your own neighbourhood — the spots that only appear on calm days, the best time to reach Grama Bay, the light conditions inside the cave at noon.
Small groups
We run small group tours on narrow speedboats rather than large ferries. This means we can reach places that bigger boats cannot — including the Canyon of Smugglers and the Secret Blue Cave — and that the experience stays personal rather than crowded.
Safety first
Life jackets are available for everyone on board. Our skippers monitor sea conditions before and during every tour and will always prioritise safety over schedule. If conditions are not right, we reschedule rather than compromise.
Hidden spots
Our routes include stops that most visitors to Vlore never see — not because they are hard to find, but because the boats that most operators use are too large to reach them. Our speedboats go where others cannot.
Pay on arrival
No online payment, no cancellation fees. Book your spot, show up on the day and pay at our office in cash or by card. If the weather forces a reschedule, we sort it out without any complications.
Modern fleet
We currently operate a fleet of RIB speedboats ranging from 6 to 14 metres. We are actively expanding our fleet in partnership with a local agency in Vlore to meet growing demand without compromising the small-group experience.
Built for this coastline
We run a fleet of four RIB speedboats, ranging from 6 to 14 metres. RIBs — rigid inflatable boats — are the right tool for the Karaburun coast. They are fast, stable in choppy conditions, low enough to enter sea caves and narrow enough to pass through the canyon passages that larger vessels cannot reach.
The size of our boats is deliberate. Large ferries and party boats carry more passengers but are restricted to the open bays. Our speedboats access the full coastline — including the Canyon of Smugglers, the Secret Blue Cave and the tight passage into Englishman Bay — because they are small enough to go there.
We are currently expanding the fleet in partnership with a local agency in Vlore. New boats are being added to increase departure frequency while keeping group sizes small and the experience personal.
Ready to see it for yourself?
Browse our tours and book your spot. Pay on arrival, no commitment required.